Larry Dane Brimner facts for kids

Larry Dane Brimner (born November 5, 1949) is an American teacher, speaker, and author. He has written over 150 books for children and young adults. His books cover many topics, from fun fantasy stories for younger kids to important non-fiction books for older readers. Many of his works focus on civil rights and social justice.

About Larry Dane Brimner

Early Life and Education

Larry Dane Brimner was born in St. Petersburg, Florida. His father was in the military, so Larry moved around a lot. He spent much of his childhood on Kodiak Island in Alaska. Back then, there was no television, and radio signals were rare. Because of this, his parents often read books to him.

By age four, his family moved to a rural area near San Diego, California. Larry later attended San Diego State University. He graduated in 1971 with a degree in British Literature. He earned another degree from the same university in 1981.

From Teacher to Author

From 1974 to 1984, Larry Brimner taught writing at El Centro Union High School. This school was in El Centro, California, a farming town east of San Diego. After that, he lectured at San Diego State University from 1984 to 1992. He taught in the College of Education.

Since 1985, Larry Brimner has been a full-time writer. He loves to visit schools to talk to young people. He encourages them to read and write. He has been a visiting author at schools on three different continents! He also speaks at education and writing conferences.

His Books and Their Impact

Larry Dane Brimner is well-known for his non-fiction books. Many of these books tell important stories about social justice. His book We Are One: The Story of Bayard Rustin won the 2008 Jane Addams Children's Book Award. This award is for books that promote peace and social justice.

Another book, Birmingham Sunday, received the Orbis Pictus Honor Book Award in 2011. This award is given by the National Council for Teachers of English. It also won the Eureka! Gold Award.

His 2011 book, Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor, won the Carter G. Woodson Book Award. It was also named a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book. These awards recognize outstanding non-fiction for children.

More recently, Brimner has written about migrant children. His book STRIKE! The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. In 2018, his book Twelve Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961 won the prestigious Sibert Medal. This award celebrates the best non-fiction children's books.

One of his early reader books, Cats!, has sold over 300,000 copies. It is still being printed today!

Larry Brimner has won many awards for his writing. These include the Teachers' Choice Award, Eureka! Silver Award, and the Jane Addams Honor Book Award. He also received the Norman A. Sugarman Award for Biography. His books have been named Best Books for the Teen Age by the New York Public Library. Many have also been selected for the Junior Library Guild.

Larry Brimner lives in San Diego, California. He also has a small writing studio in Tucson, Arizona.